As consumers were preparing for the holiday season, Citizens Bank Minnesota was encouraging them to Go Local by shopping at their community’s small businesses. By supporting local small businesses, consumers give back to their community and make it a better place to live. Local spending helps communities thrive and grow.

As consumers were preparing for the holiday season, Citizens Bank Minnesota was encouraging them to Go Local by shopping at their community’s small businesses. By supporting local small businesses, consumers give back to their community and make it a better place to live. Local spending helps communities thrive and grow.

Citizens challenged itself and its employees to shop locally first for all of their holiday needs. The bank set a $200,000 goal for itself and its 80+ employees to spend locally during November and December. They blew past it by spending $286,310.55!

Citizens launched its Go Local campaign in New Ulm on Monday, Nov. 19, by “cash mobbing” Retzlaff’s Hardware, its oldest retail client. A cash mob is a phenomenon recently seen across the country, designed to help a small business by organizing a group of people, through social media or other means, to meet at the business and spend about $20 each. The location is kept secret until the last minute, although clues are given in advance. The business is usually surprised, and the atmosphere during the cash mob is very light hearted and fun.

Citizens plans to continue to cash mob businesses at all locations into 2013. Cash mobs will take place at retail stores and eating establishments. Follow the bank on Facebook for clues to the next cash mob location. And businesses, beware! You may be next!

As an additional part of the Citizens Go Local campaign, 50 checkbooks were also distributed around New Ulm, Lafayette, La Salle and Lakeville in hopes that citizens would find them, return them to Citizens Bank Minnesota to receive $10 in Chamber Dollars to use to shop locally. Plus, if you are a client of Citizens, the prize doubles! If you see a blue checkbook just lying on the ground with a Citizens logo, grab it and bring it back to your local Citizens location to collect your prize! Go Local!

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